Six goddesses ruled from Mt. Olympus according to the tales of classical-era mythology. Hera was both wife and sister to Zeus and is regarded as the queen of the Gods. Greek mythology holds up the goddesses as protectors and stewards of the feminine side of human existence. They are in control of love, fertility and the fruit of the Earth. Just as the Gods of Mt. Olympus are powerful but imperfect, the Goddesses can possess great wisdom and be prone to rash decisions.

Hera

The Goddess Hera was wife to Zeus, both born to Cronus and Rhea. She is viewed as the Goddess of women, marriage and childbirth. Many tales of Greek mythology center around  the jealousy and retribution Hera enacted against the love interests who submitted themselves to Zeus and the offspring who were fathered by her unfaithful and all powerful husband. Hercules, the child of Alceme fathered by Zeus, was just one of many to incur the vengeful goddess’ wrath. Juno is the Roman representation of Hera.

Demeter

Born the second daughter of Rhea and Cronus, Demeter was goddess of the lands who nourished the soil. She as seen as the “bringer” of the seasons. Her central myth involved her daughter Persephone, who was abducted by Hades and made to become his queen. Demeter was grievous and life came to a halt as her sorrow prevented the coming of the seasons. Zeus was swayed by the suffering people and the other deities and he commanded Hermes to return Persephone from the underworld. Although she was returned to her mother, Hades had fooled her, and by the rule of fates Persephone was forced to return for four months of each year as punishment for eating the pomegranate seeds that Hades had offered.

Aphrodite

She was the goddess of love, lust and sensuality and her beauty was unsurpassed. In Greek, her name translates to  “risen from the foam” and legend suggests she was created after Cronus severed Ouranos’ genitals and threw them into the seas. Other variations on her mythology suggest she was daughter to Zeus or Dione. Her unparllelled beauty was a danger in the eyes of the Gods, who believed it was inevitable that they would be plunged into all out war in order to gain her favor. Zeus resolved this by making the beautiful goddess marry  Hephaestus, God to the blacksmiths who was crippled and homely according to Greek mythology. The marriage did not deter her desire to use her physical perfection to meddle in the affairs of Gods and mortals. In Rome, Aphrodite was referred to as Venus.  The most popular Aphrodite statue is more commonly known as the Venus De Milo, but she is perhaps the most popular subject of Greek art.

Artemis

Artemis was the daughter of Zeus and the mortal woman Leto.  She is the God Apollo’s twin. Artemis was one of the Virgin Goddesses in Greek mythology. As the Virgin Huntress, her rule over nature was absolute and it was believed that she delivered fertility to the lands of all who worshipped her. The sister to Apollo, the sun God, she became associated with the Moon. She is identified with the Roman goddess Diana.

Athena

Athena is another popular subject of Greek art.  One of the most famous works is a Greek Goddess Athena Bust from the 4th century that sits in the Lourve, Paris.  While there are varying tales of how Athena became a goddess, it’s agreed that she is the daughter of Zeus and Metis, a Titan consort of the king of Gods. In the predominant origin tale; Zeus, was afraid that Metis would bear a child more powerful than himself, so he swalled Metis whole. Metis birthed and raised her child inside Zeus and sent her forth, springing from Zeus’ head, a fully-formed woman armed for battle. Athena was the Goddess of Wisdom and Knowledge who taught men and women the skills to cloth their families, tend the lands and prepare for battle. She is one of the three virgin Goddesses along with Artemis and Hestia. Athenians buit the Parthenon in honor of Athena, their patron God.

Hestia

First born daughter of Rhea and Cronus, she was a virgin goddess like Hera and Athena. She was pursued by both Poseidon and Apollo who wished her hand in marriage, but she remained faithful to the vow of chastity she made to Zeus. Hestia was a favorite goddess of the Greek people for her generous spirit and peaceful nature. Hestia remained for eternity at Mt. Olympus, never engaging in the wars and conflicts that occupied the other gods. Hestia was the only deity to be worshipped in all temples regardless of their affiliation to a specific god.